Statine-derived tetrapeptide inhibitors of β-secretase

Alzheimer’s disease (AD) is characterised by the accumulation of amyloid β-peptide (Aβ) within senile plaques in the brain. β-secretase is one of the enzymes necessary for the production of amyloid β-peptide from the amyloid precursor protein (APP), the other being γ-secretase. β-Secretase was recently characterised as a novel aspartyl protease. Statine-derived tetrapeptide inhibitors of this enzyme, described in this patent, may have therapeutic applications in AD.     

治疗阿尔采末病的药物靶点:β-分泌酶

近年来的研究表明,β-淀粉样蛋白(Aβ)是老年斑的主要成分,有明显的神经细胞毒性作用,在阿尔采末病(AD)的发病过程中发挥了重要作用,因此降低脑中Aβ的生成量是治疗AD的策略。Aβ是由β-和γ-分泌酶裂解其前体蛋白(APP)而生成,其中β-分泌酶(BACE)是启动Aβ形成的关键限速酶,因此BACE是开发治疗AD药物的一个具有吸引力的作用靶点。该文就近来对β-分泌酶的研究作一综述。     

Novel γ-secretase modulators for the treatment of Alzheimer's disease: a review focusing on patents from 2010 to 2012

Introduction: γ-Secretase is the enzyme responsible for the final step of amyloid precursor protein proteolysis to generate Aβ peptides including Aβ42 which is believed to be a toxic species involved in Alzheimer's disease (AD) progression. γ-Secretase modulators (GSMs) have been shown to selectively lower Aβ42 production without affecting total Aβ levels or the formation of γ-secretase substrate intracellular domains such as APP intracellular domain and Notch intracellular domain. Therefore, GSMs have emerged as an important therapeutic strategy for the treatment of AD.

Areas covered: The literature covering novel GSMs will be reviewed focusing on patents from 2010 to 2012.

Expert opinion: During the last review period (2008 – 2010) considerable progress was made developing GSMs with improved potency for lowering Aβ42 levels, but most of the compounds resided in unfavorable central nervous system (CNS) drug space. In this review period (2010 – 2012), there is a higher percentage of potent GSM chemical matter that resides in favorable CNS drug space. It is anticipated that clinical candidates will emerge out of this cohort that will be able to test the GSM mechanism of action in the clinic.     

β-Amyloid peptide as a target for treatment of Alzheimer’s disease

Alzheimer’s disease is a progressive neurodegenerative disorder characterised by a series of biochemical and histological changes although the net of relations and its initial cause is far from being fully understood. The amyloid hypothesis points out the pathological processing of a physiologically normal protein, the amyloid precursor protein, to neurotoxic forms of amyloid β-peptide as the origin of the cascade of biochemical changes that lead to Alzheimer’s disease. Normal APP processing involves three proteases, α-, β- and γ-secretase, to yield physiological amyloid fragments. Familial Alzheimer’s disease patients exhibit an increased activity of β- and γ-secretases, resulting in higher than average levels of small amyloid fragments, of 40 or 42 amino acids (Aβ₄₀ and Aβ₄₂, respectively). These newly formed Aβ₄₀ and Aβ₄₂ may suffer a conformational change followed by aggregation into fibrils and finally deposition as senile plaques in a complex process named fibrillogenesis, which is associated with neurotoxicity. Modulation of this multistep process is a reasonably hopeful approach for the treatment of Alzheimer’s disease. In a general sense, this approach can be divided in three groups: first, modulating the production of Aβ promoting the non-amyloidogenic route; second, inhibiting fibrillogenesis and third, by immunisation techniques, enhancing the formation of anti-Aβ antibodies in order to mark fibrils and plaques as targets for microglial cells.     

Novel γ-secretase modulators: a review of patents from 2008 to 2010

Introduction: The amyloid precursor protein is first cleaved by β-secretase to generate a 99-residue membrane-bound CTF (C99 or β-CTF), which is subsequently cleaved by γ-secretase to generate amyloid β (Aβ) peptides and the APP intracellular domain. The amyloidogenic Aβ42 has attracted considerable attention because it is thought to be the most pathogenic species associated with Alzheimer's disease progression. New classes of compounds, called γ-secretase modulators (GSMs), have been shown to selectively lower Aβ42 production without shutting down key γ-secretase-dependent signaling pathways. This has become an important therapeutic strategy aimed at modulating Aβ production.

Areas covered: The progress on the clinical development of γ-secretase inhibitors is briefly covered in this review, followed by a discussion of the potential differentiating attributes of GSMs. Then, the patent literature covering novel GSMs is reviewed, focusing on patents from 2008 to 2010.

Expert opinion: Much progress has been made in the past 2 years on developing GSMs with improved potency for lowering the production of Aβ42. However, many of these chemotypes are in a challenging chemical space and generally possess higher lipophilicity than most CNS drugs. It will be important to gain a better understanding of the specific target(s) that these GSMs interact with in order to facilitate future drug design efforts.     

Development of semagacestat (LY450139), a functional γ-secretase inhibitor,for the treatment of Alzheimer's disease

Background: Alzheimer's disease is thought to be caused by increased formations of neurotoxic amyloid beta (Aβ) peptides, which give rise to the hallmark amyloid plaques. Therefore, pharmacological agents that reduce Aβ formation may be of therapeutic benefit. Objective: This paper reviews the pharmacology and chemical efficacy of an Aβ-lowering agent, semagacestat (LY450139). Methods: A review of the published literature pertaining to semagacestat was obtained using several electronic search engines; unpublished data on file at Eli Lilly and Co. were used as supplementary material. Results/conclusions: Semagacestat treatment lowers plasma, cerebrospinal fluid and brain Aβ in a dose-dependent manner in animals and plasma and cerebrospinal fluid Aβ in humans, compared with placebo-treated patients. On the basis of extant data, semagacestat seems to be well tolerated, with most adverse events related to its actions on inhibition of peripheral Notch cleavage. Thus far, clinical efficacy has not been detectable because of the short duration of the current trials. Phase III trials with 21 months of active treatment are currently underway.     

Emerging and potential therapies for Alzheimer's disease

Background: The amyloid β (Aβ) peptide is critical to the development of Alzheimer's disease (AD), the major neurodegenerative disease of the elderly for which there is currently no cure. Objective: To review the literature on emerging treatments and potential therapeutic strategies for AD. Methods: Available published literature and information from pharmaceutical companies was utilised. Results/conclusion: Several of the current treatments to combat AD are aimed at inhibiting the production, blocking the oligomerisation/aggregation or enhancing the degradation of Aβ. In our opinion, albeit based on limited available data, a future potential therapeutic strategy is to mimic the mechanism by which the normal cellular form of the prion protein inhibits the β-secretase β-site amyloid precursor protein cleaving enzyme-1 (BACE1), and hence the production of Aβ.     

2,2,2-Trifluoroethyl-thiadiazines: a patent evaluation of WO2016023927

The Alzheimer’s disease (AD) is acknowledged as the most common type of dementia in aging adults. It is characterized by the formation of intracellular neurofibrillary tangles and extracellular amyloid plaques. The latter insoluble deposits mainly consist of β-amyloid peptides (Aβ), which are the derivatives of the amyloid precursor protein (APP). The formation of neurotoxic Aβ-peptides involves the cleavage of APP with beta-secretase enzyme (beta-site APP cleaving enzyme 1, BACE1) so the potential of BACE1 inhibitors as therapeutic agents for AD is now drawing much attention.

The patent application WO2016023927 reports the preparation of new 1,2,4-thiadiazine inhibitors of BACE1 activity and their use as therapeutically active substances. Some of the new compounds are claimed to be good inhibitors with the IC₅₀ values in the 0.000292–0.134165 μM range. Several pharmaceutical preparations based on these compounds are proposed for possible treatment and prevention of AD.

Expert opinion: In light of the novelty from the chemical point of view and improved biological activity, the reported 2,2,2-trifluoroethylthiadiazines could be considered as promising BACE1 inhibitors. However, the available data are insufficient to make a recommendation if these compounds can be considered as drug candidates. Further studies with a larger number of compounds are required. The compounds described in the patent have to be characterized more thoroughly from the chemical viewpoint (e.g., by means of IR, ¹H and ¹³C NMR spectroscopy, X-ray crystallography), especially as regards stereochemical details.     

阿尔采末病APP分泌酶及其靶向干预研究进展

α、β和γ3种分泌酶是淀粉样前体蛋白(APP)加工及代谢的关键酶,选择性地激活α分泌酶或抑制β和γ分泌酶,将有助于减少β-淀粉样蛋白(Aβ)的产生,并可能成为治疗AD的有效靶点。该文主要对APP 3种分泌酶活性表达的影响因素及其靶向干预研究的进展做一综述。     

异噻唑（啉）酮取代的间苯二甲酸衍生物的设计、合成及其抑制β-分泌酶活性

目的发现新结构的β-分泌酶抑制剂。方法基于β-分泌酶抑制剂的构效关系,设计合成了含羟乙胺结构片段的间位1,1-二氧代-2,3-（2H）-异噻唑酮和1,1-二氧代-异噻唑啉酮取代的间苯二甲酸衍生物;利用时间分辨荧光法（TRF）和中国仓鼠卵巢细胞（CHO,APP/BACE1基因）模型分别评价这些化合物体外抑制β-分泌酶和Aβ40的活性。结果合成了16个新目标化合物,利用MS和1H-NMR对化合物的结构进行了确证,利用HPLC对化合物的纯度进行了测定,利用旋光仪测定了化合物的比旋光度。活性数据显示,化合物2d、2e、2f、2g、2h和3d、3h抑制β-分泌酶活性的IC50值在10 nmol.L-1以下,化合物2c和3c、3g抑制β-分泌酶活性的IC50值在25 nmol.L-1以下;化合物2c、2d和2h在浓度为0.01μmol.L-1时,对双转APP/BACE1基因CHO细胞Aβ40产生的抑制率分别为58.3%、43.7%和42.1%。结论发现了新的β-分泌酶抑制剂,分析了其初步的构效关系,为进一步的结构优化以及发现活性更好的化合物提供了指导。     

Curcumin mediates presenilin-1 activity to reduce β-amyloid production in a model of Alzheimer's Disease

Curcumin has been reported to inhibit the generation of Aβ, but the underlying mechanisms by which this occurs remain unknown. Aβ is thought to play an important role in the pathogenesis of Alzheimer's disease (AD). The amyloid hypothesis argues that aggregates of Aβ trigger a complex pathological cascade that leads to neurodegeneration. Aβ is generated by the processing of APP (amyloid precursor protein) by β- and γ-secretases. Presenilin 1 (PS1) is central to γ-secretase activity and is a substrate for GSK-3β, both of which are implicated in the pathogenesis of AD. The present study aimed to investigate the effects of curcumin on the generation of Aβ in cultured neuroblastoma cells and on the in vitro expression of PS1 and GSK-3β. To stimulate Aβ production, a plasmid expressing APP was transfected into human SH-SY5Y neuroblastoma cells. The transfected cells were then treated with curcumin at 0-20 μM for 24 h or with 5 μM curcumin for 0-48 h, and the extracellular levels of Aβ(40/42) were determined by ELISA. The levels of PS1 and GSK-3β mRNA were measured by RT-PCR, and the expression of the PS1 and GSK-3β proteins (including the phosphorylated form of GSK-3β, p-GSK-3β-Ser9) were evaluated by western blotting. Curcumin treatment was found to markedly reduce the production of Aβ(40/42). Treatment with curcumin also decreased both PS1 and GSK-3β mRNA and protein levels in a dose- and time-dependent manner. Furthermore, curcumin increased the inhibitory phosphorylation of GSK-3β protein at Ser9. Therefore, we propose that curcumin decreases Aβ production by inhibiting GSK-3β-mediated PS1 activation.     

Butanol extract of Ecklonia cava prevents production and aggregation of beta-amyloid, and reduces beta-amyloid mediated neuronal death

Beta-amyloid (Aβ) is a major pathogenic peptide for Alzheimer’s disease (AD) and is generated by the processing of amyloid precursor protein (APP). The Aβ monomers aggregate into oligomeric and fibrillar forms which have been implicated as the toxic species inducing the neuronal dysfunction. Brown algae Ecklonia cava is known for its anti-oxidant and anti-inflammatory functions. Therefore, we tested the effect of E. cava extract on the production and aggregation of Aβ peptides. The butanol extract of E. cava reduced Aβ secretion from HEK293 cells expressing APP with Swedish mutation and increased soluble APPα and C-terminal fragment-α (CTFα), of which activity was similar to BACE (β-site of APP cleaving enzyme) inhibitors. Furthermore, the extract inhibited Aβ oligomerization, particularly mid-size oligomer formation, confirmed by the ultrastructural morphology. Congo red, thioflavin T assays, and electron microscopy showed that the extract inhibited Aβ fibril formation effectively. Finally, the extract protected primary cortical neurons from various Aβ-induced cell deaths, especially oligomer-induced death. Although further study is needed to test the effectiveness of the extract in vivo, our results demonstrate, for the first time, that the butanol extract of E. cava could be used as an anti-Aβ agent for AD therapeutics.     

β-Amyloid therapies in Alzheimer’s disease

Neurones in the brain produce β-amyloid (Aβ) fragments from a larger precursor molecule termed the amyloid precursor protein (APP). When released from the cell, these protein fragments may accumulate in extracellular amyloid plaques and consequently hasten the onset and progression of Alzheimer’s disease (AD). β-Amyloid fragments are generated through the action of specific proteases within the cell. Two of these enzymes, β- and γ-secretase, are particularly important in the formation of Aβ as they cleave within the APP protein to give rise to the N-terminal and C-terminal ends of the Aβ fragment, respectively. Consequently, many researchers are investigating therapeutic approaches that inhibit either β- or γ-secretase activity, with the ultimate goal of limiting Aβ production. An alternative AD therapeutic approach that is being investigated is to employ anti-Aβ antibodies to dissolve plaques that have already formed. Both of these approaches focus on the possibility that accrual of Aβ leads to neuronal degeneration and cognitive impairment characterised by AD and test the hypothesis that limiting Aβ deposition in neuritic plaques may be an effective treatment for AD.     

Molecular rationale for the pharmacological treatment of Alzheimer's disease

Cerebral deposition of amyloid plaques containing amyloid beta-peptide (Abeta) has traditionally been considered the central feature of Alzheimer's disease (AD). Abeta is derived from amyloid precursor protein (APP), which is cleaved by several different proteases: alpha-, beta- and gamma-secretase. In the past decade, however, the molecular pathogenesis of AD has been shown to involve alterations in several neurotransmitter, inflammatory, oxidative, and hormonal pathways that represent potential targets for AD prevention and treatment. Much research has shown a direct link between cholinergic impairment and altered APP processing as a major pathogenetic event in AD. Three highly probable mechanisms of APP regulation through inhibition of acetylcholinesterase are thus current topics of investigation. Indeed, acetylcholinesterase inhibitors appear to cause selective muscarinic activation of alpha-secretase and to induce the translation of APP mRNA; they may also restrict amyloid fibre assembly. Activation of N-methyl-D-aspartate receptors is considered a probable cause of chronic neurodegeneration in AD, and memantine has been widely used in some countries in AD patients to block cerebral N-methyl-D-aspartate receptors that normally respond to glutamate. Further studies are needed to determine whether antioxidants such as vitamins C and E are effective, through various mechanisms, in patients with mild-to-moderate AD. Additional data are also required for non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, some of which appear to possess experimental effects that may ultimately prove favourable in AD patients. Statins also warrant further investigation, since they have activated alpha-secretase and they reduced Abeta generation and amyloid accumulation in a transgenic mouse model. beta-Secretase would seem to be an ideal target for anti-amyloid therapy in AD, but potential clinical and pharmacological issues, such as ensuring selectivity of inhibition, stability, and ease of blood-brain barrier penetration and cellular uptake, remain to be addressed for beta-secretase inhibitors. gamma-Secretase is not an easy candidate for pharmacological manipulation. Immunotherapeutic strategies have targeted Abeta directly; however, intensive investigation of indirect approaches to the management of AD with immunotherapy is now underway.     

以β-分泌酶为靶标的阿尔采末病防治药物研发进展

β-分泌酶作为β-淀粉样蛋白产生的限速酶,被认为是治疗阿尔采末病的靶标之一。抑制β-分泌酶的活性可以降低阿尔采末病关键致病因素β-淀粉样蛋白的生成,阻止β-淀粉样蛋白有害级联反应,从而达到治疗阿尔采末病的目的。目前以β-分泌酶为靶标防治阿尔采末病的药物研发主要有以下几类:一是包括肽类、拟肽类和化学小分子在内的化学药,二是中药和天然产物,另外还有诸如抗体和核酸的生物制剂。该文对以β-分泌酶为靶标的药物研发进展进行了综述。     

Targeting ApoE4/ApoE receptor LRP1 in Alzheimer's disease

Introduction: Progressive neuronal loss is a key feature in Alzheimer's disease (AD), which is the most common neurodegenerative disorder in the aging population. Currently, there are no therapeutic means to intervene neuronal damage in AD and therefore innovative approaches to discover novel strategies for the treatment of AD are needed. Based on the prevailing amyloid cascade hypothesis, it is conceivable that lowering the β-amyloid (Aβ) levels is sufficient to slow down the disease process, if started early enough.

Areas covered: Here, we review genetic and biological functions related to apolipoprotein E (ApoE) and low-density lipoprotein receptor-related protein 1 receptor (LRP1)-mediated clearance of Aβ. Furthermore, we discuss the AD-related therapeutic potential of targeting to ApoE receptor LRP1 at the blood-brain barrier (BBB) and in the periphery.

Expert opinion: Due to the recent setbacks in the clinical trials targeting AD, it is instrumental to seek alternative therapeutic approaches, which aim to reduce the accumulation of Aβ in the brain tissue. As the ApoE/LRP1-mediated clearance of Aβ across the BBB is the key event in the regulation of Aβ transcytosis from brain to periphery, direct targeting of this protein entity at the BBB holds a great potential in the treatment of AD.     

Cardiovascular & Renal: Novel ET receptor antagonists

The socio-economic costs of caring for patients with Alzheimer’s disease (AD), both in institutions and in the community, are immense. Since increasing age is a significant risk factor for the development of AD, these costs are set to rise commensurate with demographic changes in the age structure of the population. The need for effective treatments to combat the decline in cognitive functions in AD is therefore obvious. The realisation over the past decade of the importance of the amyloid precursor protein (APP) and its metabolites, the amyloid β-peptides (Aβ), in the pathogenesis of AD has suggested that these may be likely therapeutic targets, at several points along their synthetic and metabolic pathways. This review will cover patenting activity concerning APP and Aβ for the period 1995 - 1996. Special emphasis is placed on the patent applications aimed at preventing Aβ aggregation since this seems to be a key event in potentiating Aβ neurotoxicity.     

Uptake of silica nanoparticles: Neurotoxicity and Alzheimer-like pathology in human SK-N-SH and mouse neuro2a neuroblastoma cells

Growing concern has been raised over the potential adverse effects of engineered nanoparticles on human health due to their increasing use in commercial and medical applications. Silica nanoparticles (SiNPs) are one of the most widely used nanoparticles in industry and have been formulated for cellular and non-viral gene delivery in the central nerve system. However, the potential neurotoxicity of SiNPs remains largely unclear. In this study, we investigated the cellular uptake of SiNPs in human SK-N-SH and mouse neuro2a (N2a) neuroblastoma cells treated with 10.0 μg/ml of 15-nm SiNPs for 24 h by transmission electron microscopy. We found that SiNPs were mainly localized in the cytoplasm of the treated cells. The treatment of SiNPs at various concentrations impaired the morphology of SK-N-SH and N2a cells, characterized by increased number of round cells, diminishing of dendrite-like processes and decreased cell density. SiNPs significantly decreased the cell viability, induced cellular apoptosis, and elevated the levels of intracellular reactive oxygen species (ROS) in a dose-dependent manner in both cell lines. Additionally, increased deposit of intracellular β-amyloid 1-42 (Aβ_1-42) and enhanced phosphorylation of tau at Ser262 and Ser396, two specific pathological hallmarks of Alzheimer's disease (AD), were observed in both cell lines with SiNPs treatment. Concomitantly, the expression of amyloid precursor protein (APP) was up-regulated, while amyloid-β-degrading enzyme neprilysin was down-regulated in SiNP-treated cells. Finally, activity-dependent phosphorylation of glycogen syntheses kinase (GSK)-3β at Ser9 (inactive form) was significantly decreased in SiNP-treated SK-N-SH cells. Taken together, these data demonstrated that exposure to SiNPs induced neurotoxicity and pathological signs of AD. The pre-Alzheimer-like pathology induced by SiNPs might result from the dys-regulated expression of APP/neprilysin and activation of GSK-3β. This is the first study with direct evidence indicating that in addition to neurotoxicity induced by SiNPs, the application of SiNPs might increase the risk of developing AD.     

Protective effect of centipedegrass against Aβ oligomerization and Aβ-mediated cell death in PC12 cells

Abstract

Context: Alzheimer's disease (AD) is a neurodegenerative disorder characterized by the abnormal accumulation of β-amyloid (Aβ). Multiple Aβ-aggregated species have been identified, and neurotoxicity appears to be correlated with the amount of non-fibrillar oligomers. Potent inhibitors of Aβ oligomer formation or Aβ-induced cell toxicity have emerged as attractive means of therapeutic intervention. Eremochloa ophiuroide Hack. (Poaceae), also known as centipedegrass (CG), originates from China and South America and is reported to contain several C-glycosyl flavones and phenolic constituents.

Objective: We investigated whether CG could suppress Aβ aggregation, BACE1 activity, and toxicity at neuronal cell.

Materials and methods: The inhibitory effect of CG extracts toward aggregation of Aβ42 was investigated in the absence and presence of 50?µg/mL CG. We investigated the inhibitory effects of CG (0–5?µg/mL) on BACE1 using fluorescence resonance energy transfer (FRET)-based assay. The effects of CG (0–75?µg/mL) on Aβ42-induced neurotoxicity were examined in PC12 cells in the presence or absence of maysin and its derivatives of CG.

Results: We isolated EA-CG fraction (70% MeOH fraction from EtOAc extracts) from methanol extracts of CG, which contained approximately 60% maysin and its derivatives. In the present studies, we found that several Aβ oligomeric forms such as the monomer, dimer, trimer, and highly aggregated oligomeric forms were remarkably inhibited in the presence of 50?µg/mL of EA-CG. EA-CG also inhibited BACE1 enzyme activity in a dose-dependent manner. EA-CG treatment generated approximately 50% or 85% inhibition to the control at the tested concentrations of 1 or 5?µg/mL, respectively. Moreover, the neurotoxicity induced by Aβ42 was significantly reduced by treatment of EA-CG, and the 75?µg/mL EA-CG treatment significantly increased cell viability up to 82.5%.

Discussion and conclusion: These results suggested that the anti-Alzheimer’s effects of CG occurred through inhibition of neuronal cell death by intervening with oligomeric Aβ formation and reducing BACE1 activity. Maysin in CG could be an excellent therapeutic candidate for the prevention of AD.